Military presence evident in Corentyne river
From Desiree Jodah
in the Corentyne
A Guyana and Suriname military presence was evident along the Corentyne river yesterday morning as army personnel patrolled the border in aircraft, a helicopter and boats. A Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter flew along the Corentyne river in the direction of the Atlantic at the same time as the Suriname Navy moved along the river. Suriname Navy vessels and aircraft yesterday forced speedboats plying between the two countries to return to the Guyana side. A speedboat operator, who ferries passengers several times a day across the Guyana/Suriname border, said his business had been seriously affected since the beginning of the stand-off between the two countries. He usually made between ten and 12 trips a day to Suriname, but had only been able to make two trips a day since the CGX Energy Inc oil rig was evicted by the Suriname army last Saturday. The operator said that yesterday he was forced to return to Guyana when he was halfway across the river to the neighbouring country. He said a white and blue Surinamese aircraft circled his small vessel as it tried to make its way to Suriname. Another operator who usually operates a `backtrack' (taking persons to Suriname from a place other than a port of entry) operation, said three boats had been sent back to Guyana yesterday by the Suriname patrol boats although they had arrived on the other side. He had to return fares he had taken from passengers to get them across. Meanwhile, residents at Number 63 Village on the Corentyne complained that a Surinamese helicopter without lights flew low over the houses in the area on Thursday night. They said soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force had kept the aircraft under surveillance. Stabroek News was unable to see any members of the army on the beach yesterday, although army paraphernalia was visible. At New Amsterdam Esplanade the Reserve Infantry Battalion was conducting drills and troops were also visible behind the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company exchange at Benab on the Corentyne. At midday both the GDF helicopter which flew along the river bank and the Suriname Navy appeared to have taken a lunch break, as the sounds of engines could no longer be heard. A lone speedboat took the opportunity during this apparent lull to scuttle across to Suriname. However, shortly after 3:00pm, two white Suriname Navy patrol boats were once again visible on the Corentyne river. Residents looked on indifferently and continued their activities. But they lamented the decrease in economic activity resulting from the patrols and the restrictions by the Surinamese. Backtracking and the trading of goods is big business between the border towns of both countries. They complained that no business was being done, since they depended heavily on their travelling neighbours as much as the Surinamese depended on Guyanese for trade. When asked whether they felt the rig should return to its position or Suriname should be given the area it was claiming, many said if oil was there then it should be given to Guyana since the area belonged to this country. Many admitted close links to the neighbouring country through marriage. One resident stated that many Surinamese had migrated to Holland and Guyanese had taken up residence in Suriname tending the houses of those who had migrated, and thereby contributing to that country.
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